Monday, November 3, 2008

soup food, spooky food

Once upon a time there was an more innocent time in my life where I had no ethical qualms about eating as much Habitant pea soup as my little tummy desired. It was creamy, and dreamy, and came in gigantic tins and sometimes I ate it cold right out of the fridge, sometimes heated up to make it extra silky, and usually with loads of black pepper. It was pretty good stuff, even though it didn't take me long to scan the ingredients list once becoming vegan and there the shocking news was that even the "vegetarian" version had a whole bunch of lard in it! Super gross!! But I love that stuff, so I've been trying here and there to recreate it. The trick is to think simple and this is the closest I've come so far, this may have even been better! :O

(Oh, and it's certainly that time of the season. I'm not the only one to sing the peas praises!)


On the soup front we've still been raring to go this week. After split pea came that rich, gravy-like black bean soup from the Veganomicon that I love so much. Pretty much made identically as before, but with a bit of red pepper added this time. That veg gets itself invited to anything that needs some ruby sparkle and a bite of sweet! Definitely a welcome addition here, and it's cheap and healthy yet luxurious soups like this that make me feel like a queen that should have made a double batch because aaaaaaaaaah it's soooooo goooooooooooooood.

For Hallowe'en this year I could not sleep on the eve of the Hallow's Eve, so I made pudding at three in the morning. Have I mentioned that I adore the excuse to cook at all hours of the night when I have the place to myself? Lovely fun to make a big recipe of extra almondy pudding with a layer of toasted oats and almond crust surprise hiding at the bottom! I don't think I'll go the "crust" route with my pudding again, somehow gritty isn't something I enjoyed on the tongue, but if you eat the creamy first and then the almost macaroon-like cookie bottom, well, that was pretty nice. We conveniently forgot to mention to the guys that there were seven of these in the fridge, and have been diving into pud at our leisure.

I'm not totally greedy, though, and ended up releasing 11 of 12 of these VwaV perfect pumpkin muffins out into the wild to get devoured by costumed friends. It was almost funny how the conversation went every time, though:

Me: here, do want a pumpkin muffin?
Them: ehhhh. nah, is okay.
Me: they are like cake!
Them: all right then (*pause for chewing*) WOW THESE ARE GOOD.

hahaha. fools that they do not know the wonder of gourd cake! Oh, yeah, and actually I made them with a Calabaza squash, which was remarkably smooth and sweet, and just a bit floral - worked beautifully here.

Finally, I am back onto my mission to finish the Vcon. One needs a past-time challenge, right? Eased back into the crusade with a quicky little baby bok shoy with crispy shallots recipe (read: onions, we is poor), enjoyed with my new obsession, black forbidden sticky rice, pineapple pieces and some goji berries for that painterly touch on the dinner plate. Delicious!

15 comments:

Carrie said...

I must try your pea soup...I haven't had Canadian pea soup in forever!

Anonymous said...

That sounds like a great pea soup version. And you should get a prize for trying all those vcon recipes. It's a shame how few I've made.

Destiny's Kitchen said...

Those muffins are tasty! I always make them at my job & people go nuts for 'em. I really want to try your split pea soup too. Maybe it'll taste like the kind my dad used to make. :o)

LizNoVeggieGirl said...

Soup, muffins, pudding - YUM!!!

I commend you for getting so much done in V'con - you're inspiring, as always!!

jessy said...

you know what?! i don't think i've ever had pea soup! i think i'm gonna have to print of your recipe! it looks so damn delicious! mmmmmm!

that's too funny about people not being too excitedface about gourd muffins and then finding themselves in love with them! i've got a pumpkin at home and i think i know what to do with it now...

i've yet to have pudding as a vegan - another must try. and while we're on trying things - i've never had black rice before either. man, i've got so many yummies i need to investigate & make! yay!

everything looks super stellar! thanks again for the soup recipe! :)

Jes said...

Yeaahhhh split pea soup! I'm missing the leftovers I had of mine from last week. :(

Anonymous said...

Pumpkin muffins for the win! That recipe is so good.

Anonymous said...

Yum! That lentil soup looks delicious. I am totally into soup lately, it's pretty much the perfect food, especially now that it's fall.

Anonymous said...

Hey Liz, I have been away for a few days and was catching up reading your blog... I saw that part where you talk about your 20 year old graham cracker crumbs. I come from Montreal as well. I live in Gatineau right now, but I still go to Montreal every other week-end or so. I have been unable to locate vegan graham crackers anywhere so far. They all seem to have honey in them. Where do you find yours? Any duh-brand I should have been seeing, but haven't?

Thanks

Liz Ranger (Bubble Tea for Dinner) said...

hey Chantal - unfortunately I don't have the box anymore, but I bought it at the dollar store, so um... something really really *REALLY* cheap looking. I think they were cinnamon flavoured, and the package was red. (but I obviously don't recommend them)

I know what you mean about not being able to find decent vegan grahams, though! isa's recipe is really good, if you have the time -- >

http://theppk.com/blog/2007/07/04/graham-crackers/

but oh, it would be nice to just buy some sometimes!

sarchan said...

I love the 'Nomicon bok choy.

And may I say that that pudding looks PMS-worthy.

Oh and this is the second thing today that I've seen posted about the VwaV Pumpkin Muffins. I think the universe is trying to tell me something. It's been way too long.

aTxVegn said...

The bok choy plate looks so so tasty! And I know those muffins are always a big hit!

Alicia said...

I'll try those muffins! and you don't even have to convince me that they're like cake...

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the tips. I'll check out Dollarama... or I'll follow your link to the recipe, depending on whether I have time or am desperate.

And it's true: the VwV pumpkin muffins kick ass!

Sarah P said...

being french canadian descent, I am very snooty about split pea soup. And yours looks great!